Roll dispensing device



April 14, 1964 J. H. ROBERTSON 3,128,927 ROLL DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Dec. 11, 1961 H I z IN VEN TOR. J4CK H 605x750 BY Arraems Y5.

United States Patent 3,128,927 ROLL DISPENSING DEVICE Jack H. Robertson, 2899 63rd St., Sacramento, Calif. Filed Dec. 11, 1961, Ser. No. 158,339 2 Claims. ((31. 22538) This invention relates to a cutter bar for web dispensing devices of the type from which webs are dispensed from a roll of material such as paper, foil, waxed paper or other material packaged in roll form.

An object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character wherein the leading edge of the supply roll may be made readily accessible for subsequent use by preventing the leading edge of the roll from rewinding or retracting in the direction of the supply roll.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a device of this character which may be readily adapted to a wide variety of roll dispensing apparatus, as, for example, a receptacle containing a roll, or a plurality of rolls, or with a roll holding means which engages only the ends of the roll.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which comprises a bar extending transversely across the path of movement of the paper to be dispensed and pivoted in such manner that when the paper or the like is drawn upwardly against the severing edge of the device, which is the lower edge, the upper edge of the bar moves into contact with the paper and clampingly engages it against an adjacent surface to hold the roll against slippage.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction.

A further object is the provision of a device of this character which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter and shown in the accompanying drawing wherein there are shown preferred forms of this inventive concept.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view, partially broken away, of the tearing and clamping device comprising an essential element of the instant invention shown in association with a conventional box type roll dispenser.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows, certain concealed parts thereof being indicated in dotted lines, and other portions thereof being broken away.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but shown in a different position of adjustment.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing a modified form of construction.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the construction of FIG. 4.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing a slightly modified form of construction.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing a further modified form of construction.

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view showing a further modified form of the invention as applied to a roll to be dispensed which is held only at its ends, and

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view, certain concealed parts thereof being indicated in dotted lines disclosing the adaptability of the device of the instant invention to multiple containers carrying plural rolls of the same or different materials to be dispensed.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 wherein the device of the instant invention is disclosed in its preferred form,

3,128,927 Patented Apr. 14, 1964 there is generally indicated at 10 a housing of any desired conventional configuration within which is rotatably mounted a roll 11 of paper or other suitable material in roll form adapted to be dispensed. Container 10 includes a front wall portion 12 which is offset outwardly from a lower front wall portion 13 to provide a substantially vertical slot or opening 15 through which extends the end 16 of a roll of paper or similar material. The container is provided with the usual bottom wall 17 and side walls 18, as well as top and rear walls which are not shown in the illustrative embodiment herein set forth.

The severing and holding device of the instant invention comprises a generally rectangular bar 20 which extends the full width of the container and which is provided at its end portions with inwardly extending lugs 21, which are preferably of generally triangular shape, and which are pivoted adjacent their apices as by means of pivots 22 to the side walls 18 of the dispensing receptacle. The pivot points 22 are located preferably adjacent the center of gravity of the bar, so that in the normal position of adjustment the bar tends to tilt toward the lower front wall portion 13, being urged outwardly therefrom by the end 16 of the paper roll. A sharpened severing edge or blade 23 extends the full width of the lower edge of bar 21 In the use and operation of the device the end of the paper 16 which, it is to be noted, extends below the bottom wall 17 to normal alignment with the blade edge 23 so as to be readily accessible for grasping by the fingers, is pulled substantially straight downwardly, until a sufficient or desired quantity to be severed, as indicated by dotted lines at 24 in FIG. 3, has been unrolled. The portion 24 is then pulled upwardly so that a line of cleavage is provided along the blade portion 23, and a slightly transverse pull on the edge of the portion 24 will cause the paper to be neatly severed by the blade 23. This operation exerts a tilting force on the bar 20 which rotates about the pivots 22 so that its upper edge 25 engages the end 16 through an open slot or opening 26 provided between the lower edge of the top wall 12 and the top of the bar 20, tilting the bar 20 to the position shown in FIG. 3 wherein the end 16 of the paper is clampingly engaged between the upper edge 25 and the top 27 of the inner front wall 13. This clamping action permits the paper to be readily and expeditiously torn in a smooth and even manner by preventing lateral displacement of the extended strip during severance. After the paper has been severed from the roll 11 the bar 20 pivots to its normal position substantially parallel with respect to the container 10. The severed edge 16 of the paper will remain at the cutting edge of the bar 20 readily accessible for subsequent use. The space between the bar 20 and the adjacent portion of the container 10 being greater than the thickness of the paper to provide suificient clearance for easy withdrawal from the supply roll 11 of additional paper. However, the clearance is not sufficient to allow involuntary rewinding or retraction of the curled severed end 16 in the direction of the supply roll 11, since the normal curvature, imparted by its rolled condition, prevents repassage of the severed end through this clearance unless under tension.

FIGS. 4 and 5 disclose a slightly modified form of construction which is adapted for somewhat heavier duty usage. In this modification there is generally indicated at 30 a container which is similar to that shown in the preceding modification which includes a front wall 31 which has its lowered edge reverted as at 32, and a lower front wall 33 having its upper edge reverted as at 34, there being a slot 35 corresponding to the slot 15 between the edges formed by the reverted portions 32 and 34. The bar 36 of this form of the invention is provided with an inwardly turned edge 37 having a downwardly extending inner portion 38, and an angularly disposed inwardly 3 extended blade 39 which is provided with teeth 40 or other serrations adapted to assist in the severing of the roll material. In this form of the invention triangular lugs or ears 41 are provided which are secured as by pivots -42 to the side walls 43 at a point just above the bottom wall 44. The use and operation of this form of device is substantially identical to that previously described.

FIGURE 6 is a further modification illustrative of the several forms which the device may take wherein a container generally indicated at is provided with a front wall portion 51 similar to the wall 31 and a lower inner front wall 52 similar to the wall 33 providing a slot 53 therebetween. A bar 54 is mounted by pivots 55 extending through inwardly turned lugs 56 in a manner substantially identical to that previously disclosed. However, in this form of the invention the lower edge 57 and its associated carrying blade 58 which may be either straight, toothed, or otherwise serrated as desired, is inclined rearwardly in the manner of the edge 39 to provide stiifening and support for the bar 54. The upper portion of the bar 54 may have an inwardly extending portion 59 and a downwardly depending portion 60 similar to the previously described portions 37 and 38 of FIGS. 4 and 5, or may, alternatively, be plain as disclosed in FIGS. 1 to 3.

A still further modified form of the invention is disclosed in FIG. 7 wherein the container is generally indicated at and is provided with a front wall 66 and a lower front wall 67 leaving a slot 68 therebetween through which the paper 69 or the like passes behind a bar 70. The bar 70 is also provided with inwardly extending lugs or end portions 71 which are pivoted as at 75 to the side walls of the container, the bar in this instance being provided with a serrated sharpened edge 71 and an indented stiffener rib 72, the latter serving as reinforcement for the bar when used with heavy materials. The top edge 73 of this device may be turned back as in the modification of FIG. 4, or may be straight as disclosed in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIGURE 8 discloses the tearing and clamping bar of the instant invention in its simplest form wherein the holder comprises a back plate with a pair of forwardly projecting arms 81, each having an indentation 82 therein which serves as a hub for the paper roll 83. The arms 81 may be spring pressed toward the ends of the roll in conventional manner, and are connected at their outer extremities by a transverse plate 84. A bar 85 having a cutting edge 86 substantially identical to the construction of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 is provided with inwardly turned ears or lugs 87 which are pivoted as at 88 to the lower portion of the side members 81. In the use and operation of this device the paper or other rolled material is torn upwardly against the edge 86 while the top edge 89 clamps the extending end 90 of the material to the front bar 84, the operation being substantially identical with that of the previous modification.

FIGURE 9 is a further illustration of the versatility of the instant device, there being generally indicated at a compartmented cabinet containing, illustratively, three sections 96, 97, and 98. Each of these sections has a front wall 99 and an inner front wall 100 leaving a slot 101, the construction being substantially identical in all instances. A bar 102 which is shown illustratively as substantially identical to that of FIG. 1, but which may alternatively be of any of the other illustrated constructions or differ therefrom, is provided at its lower end with a tearing or severing edge 103 and a top or clamping edge 104. End lugs 105 are pivoted as at 166, to the side walls of the container. All of the tearing bars are identical, and identical reference characters are employed therefor. It is to be noted in this modification, however, that the top of each of the two lower sections 97 and 98 is formed with a concavity 107 and 108, respectively, to provide room for the insertion of the fingers to grasp the end 110 of the paper roll extending through the next above slot so that it may be readily and easily drawn against the tearing of severing edge 103.

Obviously, the device may be made in any desired size and decorated, embellished or colored in any desired manner.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved paper dispensing, tearing, clamping, and holding device which accomplishes all of the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiments hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a roll dispensing device, the combination of a support for at least one roll of material to be dispensed, a front wall member for said support adjacent each roll of material including an upper section and a lower rearwardly offset section defining a transverse slot between said sections, side members extending rearwardly from said front wall members, and means forming part of said support adapted to be secured to a supporting surface, a transverse bar positioned adjacent and across each of said lower sections of the front wall members, means pivoting each of said bars to said side walls in spaced relation to its associated lower front wall section, the free end of each of said rolls of material extending through the spaced defined by its associated lower front wall section and bar, and a severing edge on the lower side of each of said bars whereby a pull on said free end of each roll will sever said material along said lower edge of its associated bar and simultaneously pivot the upper edge of said bar towards the associated lower front wall section to clamp said material against said front wall member.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the space defined by each of said lower front wall sections and their associated bars is of slightly greater dimension than the thickness of material to be passed therethrough whereby the material can be easily withdrawn from a roll, but retraction of the material is precluded.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 428,192 Weston May 20, 1890 2,839,140 Vogt June 17, 1958 2,948,451 Swanson Aug. 9, 1960 3,040,943 Bump June 26, 1962 

1. IN A ROLL DISPENSING DEVICE, THE COMBINATION OF A SUPPORT FOR AT LEAST ONE ROLL OF MATERIAL TO BE DISPENSED, A FRONT WALL MEMBER FOR SAID SUPPORT ADJACENT EACH ROLL OF MATERIAL INCLUDING AN UPPER SECTION AND A LOWER REARWARDLY OFFSET SECTION DEFINING A TRANSVERSE SLOT BETWEEN SAID SECTIONS, SIDE MEMBERS EXTENDING REARWARDLY FROM SAID FRONT WALL MEMBERS, AND MEANS FORMING PART OF SAID SUPPORT ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO A SUPPORTING SURFACE, A TRANSVERSE BAR POSITIONED ADJACENT AND ACROSS EACH OF SAID LOWER SECTIONS OF THE FRONT WALL MEMBERS, MEANS PIVOTING EACH OF SAID BARS TO SAID SIDE WALLS IN SPACED RELATION TO ITS ASSOCIATED LOWER FRONT WALL SECTION, THE FREE END OF EACH OF SAID ROLLS OF MATERIAL EXTENDING THROUGH THE SPACED DEFINED BY ITS ASSOCIATED LOWER FRONT WALL SECTION AND BAR, AND A SEVERING EDGE ON THE LOWER SIDE OF EACH OF SAID BARS WHEREBY A PULL ON SAID FREE END OF EACH ROLL WILL SEVER SAID MATERIAL ALONG SAID LOWER EDGE OF ITS ASSOCIATED BAR AND SIMULTANEOUSLY PIVOT THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID BAR TOWARDS THE ASSOCIATED LOWER FRONT WALL SECTION TO CLAMP SAID MATERIAL AGAINST SAID FRONT WALL MEMBER. 